Reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent

ABSTRACT

A reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent includes pivoting bars, reinforcement blocks and protection plates. The cross bar frame has both pivoting bars pivoted to each other in a cross fashion. Each pivoting bar is provided with a pivoting hole. The reinforcement block inserted to each pivoting bar is provided with a through hole. Each protection plate is provided with a through hole and disposed where the pivoting bars are pivoted to each other to increase the area subject to stress and structural strength of the cross bar frame.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent, and more particularly, to one that improves the structural strength of the cross bar frame by increasing its area subject to the stress created from the tent when stretched.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 8A, a frame of a tent generally available in the market has respectively pivoted with multiple pairs of cross bar frames (B) on each side of a tent (A) so to stretch up a fabric (Al). Also referring to FIG. 9, in the structure of the cross bar frame, two pivoting bars (B1) and (B2) are pivoted to each other respectively at their middle points. A reinforcement block (C) is each inserted to the ends of the two pivoting bars (B1, B2). A bolt (D), washers (E), and a nut (F) are used to pivot any two abutted pivoting bars (B1, B2) for the pivoting bars (B1, B2) to fortify their structural strength through the reinforcement blocks (C). The fabric (A1) is stretched up by means of multiple units of the cross bar frames (B).

Whereas the cross bar frames (B) are pivoted to one another to stretch up the fabric (A1) of the tent (A), they at the same time are subject to quite a significant counter force from the fabric (A1). As illustrated in FIG. 10, the most vulnerable part in terms of strength on the cross bar frame (B) comes from the points where the pivoting bars (B1, B2) are pivoted to another pair of pivoting bars (B1, B2); however, the area (G) subject to stress at the most vulnerable part is that the pivoting bars (B1, B2) contact the washer (E) as shown in the shadowed area in FIG. 10 and is very limited in size. Therefore, the structural strength of the prior art is comparatively poor since the resultant stress collected when the cross bar frame (B) is subject to stress can easily break up the cross bar frame (B) at where they are pivoted to another pair of the cross bar frame (B).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a reinforced structure for a cross bar frame used in a tent to correct the flaws found with the prior art while providing reliable structure of the cross bar frame in stretching up the fabric of a tent. To achieve the purpose, the present invention comprises pivoting bars, reinforcement blocks and protection plates. Wherein, the cross bar frame is formed by having the pivoting bars pivoted to each other in a cross fashion. Each pivoting bar is provided with a pivoting hole close to its end. The reinforcement block inserted to each pivoting bar is provided with a through hole. Each protection plate having a through hole is disposed where the pivoting bars are pivoted to each other. The protection plate is molded by compromising the shape of the pivoting bar and is provided with a lip on its peripheral edge. Accordingly, the present invention by extending the distance between the pivoting hole to its top of the pivoting bar and providing reinforcement blocks and protection plates to the inner and outer sides of the end of the pivoting bar increases the area subject to the stress on the pivoting bar and its structural strength.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing that an assembly of the first embodiment of the present invention is subject to stress.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing that an assembly of the second embodiment of the present invention is subject to stress.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing an assembly of the third embodiment of the present invention is subject to stress.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a prior art.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of FIG. 8.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cross bar frame of the prior art.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing that the cross bar frame of the prior art is subject to stress.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1, 1A, and 2, a cross bar frame (1) mounted to each side of a tent (4) comprises pivoting bars (11, 12), reinforcement blocks (2) and protection plates (3).

Each of the pivoting bars (11, 12) is provided with a pivoting hole (111, 121) close to its top. Each reinforcement block (2) is provided with a through hole (21) and inserted into the top of the pivoting bar (11, 12) with the through hole (21) aligned to the pivoting hole (111, 121).

The protection plate (3) is molded by compromising the shape of the pivoting bar (11, 12) with a lip (31) extending from the peripheral edge and a through hole (32) disposed at the center of the protection plate (3).

The pivoting bars (11) and (12) are crossed each other and pivoted to each other to form the cross bar frame (1). Two abutted cross bar frames (1) of the tent (4) are pivotally connected to each other by having a bolt (5) together with washers (6) to penetrate through the pivoting holes (111, 121), the through holes (21) of the reinforcement blocks (2), and the through holes (32) of the protection plates (3) from the pivoting bars (11, 12) respectively from two abutted cross bar frames (1) and locked with a nut (7). The protection plates (3) respectively are secured on the pivoting bars (11, 12) and lay flushed against each other by means of their respective lips (31) to support the pivoting bars (11, 12) and to move along with them.

As a fabric (41) of the tent (4) is stretched up, the cross bar frame (1) is subject to a stress. Whereas the distance between the pivoting hole (111, 121) of the pivoting bar (11, 12) and the top of the pivoting bar (11, 12) is longer than that of the prior art and the presence of the protection plates (3) disposed between the two pivoting bars (11, 12) further increase the area subject to the stress, an area (H) subject to the stress formed as a result of overlapped by two abutted pivoting bars (11, 12) of the cross bar frame (1) will be increased as that shown in the shadowed area in FIG. 3, thus to improve the structural strength of the cross bar frame by avoiding damage from over-concentration of stress.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a sleeve (8) having a fastening hole (81) is each inserted to the ends of the pivoting bars (11, 12). The sleeve (8) is a hollow sleeve corresponding in shape to the pivoting bar (11, 12). As illustrated in FIG. 5, the pivoting holes (111, 121) of the pivoting bars (11, 12) are overlapped with the fastening holes (81) of the sleeves (8) and the through holes (21) of the reinforcement blocks (2) and fastened with the bolt (5), the washers (6) and the nut (7). An area (I) subject to the stress as defined by the sleeves (8) of the two pivoting bars (11, 12) disperses the stress to further improve the structural strength of the cross bar frame (1).

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 6 for another preferred embodiment yet of the present invention, the ends of the pivoting bars (11, 12) are respectively inserted with two reinforcement blocks (2, 2A). The reinforcement block (2A) inserted to the end of the pivoting bar (11) is provided with a protecting plate (22A) extending from the peripheral edge of the reinforcement block (2A). Both the reinforcement block (2A) and the protecting plate (22A) are respectively provided with two through hole (21A, 221A) corresponding to each other. While assembling, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the two reinforcement blocks (2, 2A) are inserted to the ends of the pivoting bars (11, 12) for the protecting plate (22A) extending from the reinforcement block (2A) to extend into the relative inner sides of the pivoting bars (11, 12), and the pivoting bars (11, 12) are fastened to each other by means of the bolt (5), the washers (6), and the nut (7). Whereas the protecting plate (22A) of the reinforcement block (2A) inserted into the pivoting bar (11) is disposed between the two pivoting bars (11, 12), an area a) subject to the stress and side strength are increased at the same time.

However, it is to be noted that the preferred embodiments disclosed in the specification and the accompanying drawings are not limiting the present invention; and that any construction, installation, or characteristics that is same or similar to that of the present invention should fall within the scope of the purposes and claims of the present invention. 

1. A reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent comprising pivoting bars, reinforcement blocks and protection plates; each pivoting bar being provided with a pivoting hole close to its end, each reinforcement block being provided with a through hole, each protection plate being provided with a through hole, said pivoting bars being crossed and pivoted to each other, said reinforcement block being inserted into the end of each pivoting bar, and said protection plates being disposed where said pivoting bars are pivoted to each other.
 2. The reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protection plate is formed by corresponding in shape to said pivoting bar, and a lip is provided on an peripheral edge of said protection plate.
 3. A reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent comprising pivoting bars, reinforcement blocks, and sleeves; each pivoting bar being provided with a pivoting hole close to its top, each reinforcement block being provided with a through hole, each sleeve being provided with a fastening hole, each reinforcement block being disposed in the end of each pivoting bar, each sleeve being disposed into each pivoting bar, and said pivoting bars being crossed and pivoted to each other.
 4. A reinforced structure for a cross bar frame of a tent comprising pivoting bars and reinforcement blocks; each pivoting bar being provided with a pivoting hole close to its end, each reinforcement block being provided with a through hole, each reinforcement block being disposed in the end of each pivoting bar, said pivoting bars being crossed and pivoted to each other, at least one of said reinforcement blocks being provided with a protecting plate having a through hole, said protecting plate being disposed where said pivoting bars are pivoted to each other. 